17.2 The concept of “decision support”

The core concept behind all data processing, including analytics and modeling, is to help some person make a decision. Ideally, a good decision will be based on sound data.

In many cases, decisions are made by software. Sometimes the decisions are simple rules that identify bad data, incomplete processes, or invalid actions. In other cases, the decisions are more nuanced, and we apply the term “artificial intelligence” to the software making the decision.

While many kinds of software applications make many automated decisions, a person is still — ultimately — responsible for those decisions being correct and consistent. This responsibility may be implemented as a person reviewing a periodic summary of decisions made.

This responsible stakeholder needs to understand the number and types of decisions being made by application software. They need to confirm the automated decisions reflect sound data as well...